After launching the balloons and firing at the border, an aircraft attacked an Hamas observation post. • Ganz and Kochavi concluded: "We will not move to the agenda of launching incendiary balloons."

• Gaza attack (archive)

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  AFP

After launching incendiary balloons and firing at the Gaza border, an IDF spokesman confirmed last night (Sunday) that IDF aircraft attacked an observation post of the Hamas terrorist organization in the northern Gaza Strip. The attack was carried out in response to the blowing up of explosive balloons from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory during the day.

Earlier, amid growing tensions in the south, Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bnei Gantz is assessing the situation with Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi and the two agreed not to move to the agenda on launching incendiary balloons. However, a disproportionate response is not expected. 

Also in the afternoon, two small fires broke out in the Eshkol Regional Council caused by the launch of incendiary balloons. This morning, too, shootings were carried out at contractors performing work on the Gaza border. There were no casualties and an IDF force that was rushed to the scene was shot as well, and then returned fire.

At the end of the week, it was reported that Hamas was facing an escalation, when the distribution of funds from Qatar ended. In July, the last installment of the grant money, which was due to end in January, was transferred and extended by the Qataris for another six months, among other things at the request of Israel and Egypt.

There are now secret contacts with the Qataris for an extension of another six months, but these are not currently bearing fruit. The Qataris are interested in investing the money in the employment and infrastructure projects they are developing in the Strip along with the UN.

Last week, a rocket was fired at Israeli territory, which was intercepted over Sderot. The IDF responded by attacking Hamas terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip.